PAS Rejects Wan Azizah As Selangor MB - Mustafa Ali

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 14 (Bernama) -- PAS has rejected the proposal for PKR president Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to replace Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim as the Selangor Menteri Besar.

PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali said PKR was well aware of PAS' stand on the Selangor menteri besar crisis as the matter and the reasons for the rejection had been conveyed to them in a closed-door meeting.

"However, PAS rejected Wan Azizah not because of her gender," he told a press conference after attending PAS Political Bureau meeting at its headquarters here Thursday night.

When asked whether the rejection was due to her qualifications, Mustafa disagreed, stressing that that he was not going to disclose any reasons for the rejection.

He also said PAS did not nominate anyone from the party for the menteri besar's post as it was still holding to the opposition pact's consensus that the post belonged to PKR despite the fact that PAS has more seats in the state assembly.

Mustafa said PAS, however, had yet to make any decision on its stand on the Selangor Menteri Besar crisis because the matter would only be finalised at the party's central committee meeting on Aug 17.

On the move made by two PAS assemblymen - Saari Sungib (Hulu Kelang) and Hasnul Baharuddin (Morib) - in giving their support to Dr Wan Azizah, Mustafa said they did it in their personal capacity.

"They are not acting in the party capacity. We will investigate the matter and to be fair, we will ask them to give their explanations," he said.

On the four PAS state executive council (Exco) members who attended the Selangor Exco meeting yesterday despite having been told to boycott it, Mustafa said their presence were needed to ensure that the opposition-led state government would continue to function.

"Without the four Exco members, the state government will collapse. Their presence were vital to ensure that the opposition-led government still exists and they attended the meeting on behalf of the sacked DAP and PKR Exco members.

"We care for the people's wellbeing too. If they did not attend the meeting, no decision can be made for the people," he said.

Also present at the press conference were PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, assistant secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan and acting Dewan Ulama chief Datuk Ahmad Yaakob.